Review: Polymer Cities

Polymer Cities’ Allan Murphy

Polymer Cities is the musical alias of one Allan Murphy. In this First Transmission, we take a listen to some of his work, under this and other guises.

It is always great to be exposed to new music, and this was certainly the case when The Waveform Transmitter was introduced to Polymer Cities, AKA Allan Murphy. So, it is a delight to present his music to you as part of our mission.

He describes his music as “sort of high-end electronics made by council estate/Comprehensive school kids in a future city.” It is fair to say that this has been achieved, and his own special brand of electronica certainly mirrors the punk attitudes of a disaffected youth.

The tracks available to listen to on his BandCamp page (some recorded under the pseudonym Kehrschleife) certainly conjure images of an Akira-like dystopian future, where the streets are littered with the debris of a world in the throes of a post-apocalyptic meltdown.

The minor chords strewn liberally throughout his music ensure that this is the case. It kind of feels like you’re stood in an arcade in Neo-Tokyo staring catatonically at the latest 16-bit, ultraviolent motorcycle racing game, or some trippy nightclub in a dark back alley somewhere, the flighty vapourwave sound echoing blindingly bright neon lights.

Birmingham-based artist Murphy can also be found under other monikers and has previously recorded as Pages From Ceefax and Midwich Youth Club. He cites his influence as coming from a wide range of electronic/punk bands, name-checking the likes of The Human League, The Stranglers, The Residents, and Warp label-favourites Plaid.

You can check out his Kehrscheife EP1, released on Polytechnic Youth, on his Bandcamp page. But for now, here’s some of his wonderful ‘Polymer Cities’ work. Keep an ear out for this one.